Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-27

cordingly we seated ourselves IN q eiSies anu
were soon engaged in discussing our cold meat
with such appetite as we could muster, which,
in my case at any rate, was not much, as
felt sick and faint after my sutferings OF the
nrevious night, and had besides a racking
headache 1t was a curious meal The gloom
was so intense that we could scarcely see the
way to cut our food and convey it to our
mouths. Still we got on pretty well, although
the meat was tainted by the heat through
which it had passed, till l happened to look
behind me-my attention being attracted by
n noise of something crawling over the
stones-and perceived sitting upon a rock in
my immediate rear huge species Of black
fresh water crab, only it was five times the
size of any crab / ever saw. This hideous
and loathsome looking animal had projecting
ewes that seemed to glare at one, very long
and flexible antennn, or feelers, and gigantic
claws Nor was | especially favored with its
company From every quarter dozens of
these horrid brutes were creeping up, drawn,
suppose. by the smell of the food from be-
tween the round stones and out of the holes
in the precipice. Some were already quite
close to us. | stared, quite fascinated by the
unusual sight, and as did SO | saw one of the
beasts stretch out its huge claw and give the
unsl,specting Good such a nip that he
iuraped up with howl and set the 'wild
echoes flying in sober earnest. Just then,
too, another, very large one, got hold Of
Alphonse's leg, and declined to part with it,
and, as may be imagined, considerable
scene ensued. Umslopogaas took his ak and
cracked the shell of one with the fiat of it,
whereon it set up horrid sort of screaming
which the echoes multiplied thousand fold,
and began to foam at the mouth, proceed
ing that drew hundreds more of its friends
out of unsupported holes and corners Those
on the spot, perceiving that the animal was
hurt, fell upon it like creditors on bank
rupt, and literally rent it limb from limb
with their huge pincers, and devoured it,
using their claws to convey the fragments to
their mouths Selling whatever weapons
were handy, such as stones or paddles, we
commenced war upon the monsters, whose
numbers were increasing by leaps and
bounds, and whose stencil was overpowering
So fast as we cracked their armor others
seized the injured ones and devoured them,
foarning at the mouth, and screaming as they
did so. Nor did the brutes stop at that.
When they could they nipped hold of US
and awful nips they were-or tried to steal
the meat One enormous fellow got hold of
the swan we had skinned and began to drag
it off Instantly score of others flung
| themselves upon the prey, and then began
| CHASTITY and disgusting scene. How the mon
| sters foamed and screamed and rent the
| flesh and each otherl 1t was sickening and
unnatural sight, and one that will haunt all
| who saw it till their dying day-enacted as it
| was in the deep, oppressive gloom, and set to
| the unceasing music of the many toned,
nerve shaking echoes Strange as it may
seem to say SO, there was something SO shock
| ingly human about these fiendish creatures
| it was as though all the most evil passions
| and desires of man had got into the shell of a
magnifed crab and gone mad. They were
| so dreadfully courageous and intelligent, and
they looked as if they understood. The whole
| scene might have furnished material for an
! other canto of Dante's "Inferno," as Curtis
| said.
II say. you fellows, let's get out of this, or
we shall all go off our heads" sung out Good;
| and we were not slow To take the hint Push
ing tho canoe, around which the animals were
| now crawling by hundreds and making vain
| attempts to climb, off the rocks, we bundled
| into it aud got out into midstream, leaving
| behind us the fragments of our meal. and the
screaming, foaminy, sinking mass of mon
| sters in full possession of the grounds.
"Those are the devils of the place." said
| Umslopogaas, with the air of one who has
solved problem; and, upon my word, felt
almost inclined to agree with him.
Umslopogaas' remarks were like his ak
very much to the point
whats to be done nextl" said Sir Henry,
blankly.
drift, | suppose" l answered, and we
drifted accordingly. All the afternoon and
well into the evening we foated on in the
| gloom beneath the far off line OF blue sky,
scarcely knowing when day ended and night
| began for down in that vast gulf the differ
| ence was not marked, till at length Good
| pointed out a star hanging right above us,
| which, having nothing better to do, we OBJ
| served with great interest Suddenly it van
| ished, the darkness became intense and a
| familiar murmuring sound filled the air.
Underground again." | said, with groan,
holding up the lamp Yes, there was no
| doubt about it, l could just make out
the roof. The chasm had come to an
end and the tunnel had recommended.
| And then began another long, long
night OF danger aud horror. To describe all
its incidents would be too wearisome; so
will simply say that about midnight we
struck on fiat projecting rock in midstream,
and were as nearly as possible overturned
and drowned. However, at last we got of,
and went upon the uneven tenor of our way.
| And so the hours passed until it was nearly 3
o'clock. Sir Henry, Good and Alphonse
were asleep, utterly worn out. Umslopogaas
was at the bow with the pole. and | was
steering when l perceived that the rate at
which we were travelling had pereeptibly in
creased Then, Suddenly, l heard Umslopo-
gaas make an exclamation, and next second
came a sound as of parting branches, and
became aware that the canoe was being
forced through hanging bushes or crecpers
Another minute and a breath of sweet open
air famed my face, and | felt that we lad
emerged from the tunnel and were floating
upon clear wGter. say felt, for could see
nothing, the darkness being absolutely pitchy,
as it often is just before dawn. But even
this could scarcely damp my joy. We were
out of that dreadful river, and wherever we